Sterling Amber, who works at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, wrote: "100% of all donations will go towards buying essential supplies – meals, snacks, toiletries etc – for NHS staff working long and unbelievably challenging shifts dealing with the influx of COVID-19 cases.”

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He added: “After a long shift, we think struggling to find something to eat in an empty grocery store should be the last thing that any of our dedicated NHS heroes should have to face right now.

“ALL donations will be used to purchase essential supplies which are delivered directly to the UCLH COVID-19 Centre at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery."

Boris Johnson has spoken to supermarket bosses about efforts to keep supplies flowing and how to overcome the panic-buying.

A graph showing the rise in the number of countries with coronavirus. (PA)

The government has also been accused of not providing enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff.

The chair of the Doctors’ Association UK, Dr Rinesh Parmar, claimed medics will be forced to leave the profession over a lack of equipment available to safely treat patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries has insisted there was enough PPE available for NHS staff across the UK.

During a webchat on Mumsnet on Wednesday, she said: “There is kit available to go around the country currently.”